Donald Duke, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said he is still in the race for the exalted office.
The claim by Mr Duke comes hours after his party endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as its consensus candidate for the forthcoming presidential election.
The National Executive Committe (NEC) of the SDP had on Thursday endorsed Mr Buhari after its meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Reacting, the former governor of Cross River State in a statement said the endorsement is rather unfortunate and betrays the desire of majority of party members. He said he was still in the race.
“This afternoon, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democrats Party (SDP) came up with a decision to endorse the APC and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the February 16th Presidential election. This decision has arisen according to the party, as a result of protracted legal squabbles within the party which has made the party unable to commence a decent campaign,” Duke said.
“Regardless and for the avoidance of doubt, I Donald Duke, remain on the ballot and the candidate of the SDP as recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“My decision to run on an untainted political platform rather than on one which I was a founding member, is grounded on a desire to afford our electorate and indeed our nation a clean break, options and alternatives to her current gladiators.
“For the SDP NEC to thereby endorse the APC or any other party, is rather unfortunate and betrays in my opinion, the desire of the vast majority of our party members and Nigerians credible alternatives to our nation ’s leadership,” he said.
The election is seen by political analysts are a contest between Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Buhari who seeks a second term on the platform of the APC.
